Bee removal experts in California are over the moon after receiving more than USD 10,000 in donations after dozens of colonies died in an alleged pesticide incident.
San Diego Bee Sanctuary owner Paul Gunn admitted being “exhausted” and “in shock” after discovering the uncountable number of dead insects when he checked on the hives in Escondido, San Diego County.
Paul, who organises swarm rescues and relocations, told local broadcaster ABC 10 News: “We work so hard, you want to cry.”
The bee expert suspects that the swarms perished from being exposed to pesticides. County officials are investigating the incident.
Reflecting on his discovery, the San Diego Bee Sanctuary boss said: “There was a whole pile of bees out the front. I could hear the bees falling out and spinning around in death spirals, which is obviously poisoning.”
Meanwhile, Paul thanked the hundreds of individuals who financially supported his business after hearing about the fatal incident.
The San Diego Bee Sanctuary manager set USD 10,000 as his initiative’s target. But within weeks, this sum was surpassed. Paul managed to garner USD 11,169 (EUR 10,467, GBP 9,141) via crowdfunding platform GoFundMe.
Paul reacted by saying: “By exceeding our initial goal, we will be able to get the amount of bees we lost back and more.”
He explained: “More equipment such as robbing screens can be used to help protect the bees in the future from predators and pesticides.”
Paul emphasised: “We can’t express how amazing you all are and how much this mends our hearts! You have given us so much motivation and support.”
The San Diego Bee Sanctuary’s mission is “to remove and rescue bees and provide them with a safe habitat to grow and prosper.”
On its website, the company underlines it always removes the swarms from locations such as wall cavities and backyard trees “using humane and safe techniques to maintain the harmony of nature.”
It adds: “The bees are housed at bee yards and sanctuary spaces where they are given everything they need to prosper.”
Numerous scientific studies have confirmed the detrimental impact pesticides and insecticides have on bees and other pollinators. At the same time, biotechnology companies and many farmers point out that their application is needed to fight parasites.
Prof Dr Randolf Menzel, a renowned German zoologist from the Free University of Berlin, warned: “Insecticides have an immense impact on the neuronal perception of honeybees. Their intelligence is endangered, of course. They might stop to learn, navigate and communicate.”
